This is a very simple but very effective technique. It is basically a hybridisation of all the above techniques put together. The principle, as per the description of the title, is simple, however, very effective. These systems normally use clay pebbles as the substrate, as this medium provides very good drainage and good retention of water, which over a period of time will dry out. A flood and drain system typically works by using a timer and submersible pump. The timer controls the flood via the submersible pump. The timer controls the flood and drain cycle of the system. Most flood and drain systems work via a bottom flood, which over a period of preset time floods two thirds to three quarters of the growing medium. Then, once the flood cycle reaches the desired height, the pump stops and gravity then pulls the water back to the reservoir. Then, depending on the size and depth of the system, some time later the cycle is repeated.

Conventional flood and drain systems are normally quite shallow i.e. approximately 5-10cm deep. However, due to recent developments, we now have on the market deep flood and drain systems. The pod system ™ is approximately 50cm deep. Original shallow flood and drain systems obviously take less time to flood however, need to be flooded more often over a 24-hour period. The reason is that the medium takes shorter and longer periods of time to dry before another flood is initiated, i.e. the shallow flood and drain medium will dry out quicker resulting in more floods per 24 hour period.

The great benefit in a deep flood and drain system over its shallow counterparts is that the greater the volume of water used to flood and drain a system, the greater push and pull of air over the root zone will be, i.e. the water acts like a piston in a cylinder of an engine. Each time the system floods, the old air in and around the roots is pushed out from the medium then when the flood completes and the drain cycle occurs, the water then sucks down as it returns to the reservoir, pulling fresh air in to the rootball maximising aeration around the roots. And because it needs a longer period of time to dry out before another flood is initiated, this drying out process also creates very good aeration to the roots. Then the whole process is repeated. Aeration to the rootball is possibly the biggest factor for healthy, happy, heavy yielding plants and this system gives you it by the bucket load.

Again, another big advantage of the deep flood and drain system over its shallow counterparts is that because the system uses a greater volume of water to operate it, it also needs a greater size reservoir to maintain it. Now, the bigger the reservoir, the more buffered and stable the pH and CF of the system will be, resulting in less maintenance. Also, the greater the size of the reservoir, the less times you have to visit it to top it up again resulting in less maintenance and more freedom.

Before any more praise is said about these systems, please read what horticultural press said upon their release: